NEWS RELEASE
PORCUPINE HEALTH UNIT
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In recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept. 10, 2017, the Porcupine Health Unit will be hosting a public safeTALK workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, from 1 - 4 p.m. safeTALK is a training program that teaches individuals to help prevent suicide by recognizing warning signs related to suicidal thoughts.
Participants will also learn to connect someone in need with the right care. According to Jennifer Bisson, a public health nurse with the Porcupine Health Unit, there are a number of mistaken ideas surrounding suicide, leading people to miss, dismiss or avoid these “invitations for help."
“World Suicide Prevention Day is a time to remember those that have been lost to suicide, but it is also a reminder that we can all play a part in prevention,” states Bisson. She adds, “safeTALK helps to increase your comfort in talking about suicide. You don’t need to be a health care or social worker: anyone can learn the steps.”
Registration for safeTALK is free, but must be done before the Sept. 10, 2017, deadline. “This is an opportunity for everyone to help make our community safer,” explains Bisson. She says to contact the Porcupine Health Unit or to visit their website at https://phu.fyi/safetalk-info to register for the upcoming safeTALK session.
The Porcupine Health Unit is located in Northeastern Ontario, serving the entire Cochrane District and Hornepayne, in Algoma District. The main office is located in Timmins, Ontario, with branch offices in Cochrane, Hearst, Hornepayne, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Matheson, Moosonee and Smooth Rock Falls.
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